Shower tap pulsating, can't switch it off.

[MickandHelen]

Help please. We are due to go away tomorrow, the shower tap is leaking and can't switch it off fully. I think it is a microswitch does anyone know how to remove it, thanks

 

[TheBig1]

If it is dripping, it won't be the microswitch. More likely an internal seal in the cartridge inside the tap or a bit of grit stopping it shutting properly

 

[Lenny HB]

Are you sure it's a micro switched tap as normally they fail with either the wire breaking inside the tap or on the switch meaning the pump won't start.
Also your title says pulsing that doesn't happent with a micro switched sytem pump either runs or doesn't.

Sounds like you have a pressurised system & the tap has frozen and cracked if that is the case not a lot you can do apart from replacing the tap, you could possibly clamp off the pipes to the shower or disconnect them and put end stops on them.

If you look under your taps if they are switched there will be two thin wires coming out and if there are just disconnect then.

 

[MickandHelen]

If it is dripping, it won't be the microswitch. More likely an internal seal in the cartridge inside the tap or a bit of grit stopping it shutting properly

Thanks, I need to take it apart and don't know how.

 

[Lenny HB]

What make of tap is it, or the van will give us a clue.

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[MickandHelen]

Does anyone know how to take the shower tap apart, I can't see how to access it at all

 

[Augusta08]

Could it have frozen and damaged the tap? If so it might be leaking hence puling water out....

 

[MickandHelen]

It's a Carthago compactline.

 

[Lenny HB]

Carthago use a pressure switched pump so the tap is just a straight tap no switches.

Probably a Reich tap, take the lever off normally a chrome disc on the top you need to prize out then there will be a socket cap screw to remove. Then to take the body off there is a small torx head grub screw at the base of the pillar on the back that needs removing. Often not possible to dismantle the tap without removing the tap first.

 

[MickandHelen]

I think that is the problem the tap needs to come off.

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[MickandHelen]

Thanks everyone, somebody is having a look at it for us this afternoon.

 

[TinaLes]

I had the same problem on our Carthago a few years back, it was dripping after re-filling the tank. I had drained down and blown through the taps etc, but I didnt remove the shower hose, or let it sit in the shower tray, so water had settled in the shower mixer itself.
This was enough to cause the shower mixer to freeze, which pushed the Black plastic securing washer forward, allowing the cartridge to not seat properly at the rear, causing water to by pass the cartridge body.
If you follow Lennys instructions above, you can get into the innards of the tap mixer, remove the black plastic retaining washer and check the 3 blue silicon washers at the rear of the cartridge, and the cartridge body itself. I ordered a replacement cartridge from Reich UK for about £11/12 at the time, but I needed a new Black plastic retaining washer also, as this is wafer thin, and has a tendency to become distorted or cross threaded (wish I could have found a brass one, but I went arround every plumbers merchant, and specialist tap retailer, and had no joy)
With much pulling out of hair being told the black plastic retaining washer was not available as a separate part, only the cartridge body, I managed to get Reich UK to strip down a showroom tap and send it to me in the post.
I put in the new cartridge, carefully aligned the new black plastic retaining washer, which took a few attempts to align, and much swearing, but I did it eventually, and tightened a quarter turn past finger tight....No More as it will strip on the metal threads.
NB: whilst trying to get the parts, I started to try and get behind the shower mixer body, stripping out everything, leaving just the corner moulding that the tap is fixed to. I removed every screw then found Carthago had used very strong double sided tape along both sides from floor to ceiling. Even with much patience and a hair dryer I didnt manage to get the moulding off, I was very scared of it cracking as the double sided tape was that strong. Its obvious the the shower mixer is installed before the van sides are placed on the van, making it difficult to remove, with a long list of replacement parts like corner mouldings maybe also.

I think the OP will be fine if you can get the shower mixer re-seated properly, and the black plastic washer re-installed to provide enough sealing pressure to seal the rear silicon washers.
Good Luck.
If anyone finds a brass cartridge washer the same size as The Reich crappy Black Plastic one please let me know.
LES

 

[MickandHelen]

I had the same problem on our Carthago a few years back, it was dripping after re-filling the tank. I had drained down and blown through the taps etc, but I didnt remove the shower hose, or let it sit in the shower tray, so water had settled in the shower mixer itself.
This was enough to cause the shower mixer to freeze, which pushed the Black plastic securing washer forward, allowing the cartridge to not seat properly at the rear, causing water to by pass the cartridge body.
If you follow Lennys instructions above, you can get into the innards of the tap mixer, remove the black plastic retaining washer and check the 3 blue silicon washers at the rear of the cartridge, and the cartridge body itself. I ordered a replacement cartridge from Reich UK for about £11/12 at the time, but I needed a new Black plastic retaining washer also, as this is wafer thin, and has a tendency to become distorted or cross threaded (wish I could have found a brass one, but I went arround every plumbers merchant, and specialist tap retailer, and had no joy)
With much pulling out of hair being told the black plastic retaining washer was not available as a separate part, only the cartridge body, I managed to get Reich UK to strip down a showroom tap and send it to me in the post.
I put in the new cartridge, carefully aligned the new black plastic retaining washer, which took a few attempts to align, and much swearing, but I did it eventually, and tightened a quarter turn past finger tight....No More as it will strip on the metal threads.
NB: whilst trying to get the parts, I started to try and get behind the shower mixer body, stripping out everything, leaving just the corner moulding that the tap is fixed to. I removed every screw then found Carthago had used very strong double sided tape along both sides from floor to ceiling. Even with much patience and a hair dryer I didnt manage to get the moulding off, I was very scared of it cracking as the double sided tape was that strong. Its obvious the the shower mixer is installed before the van sides are placed on the van, making it difficult to remove, with a long list of replacement parts like corner mouldings maybe also.

I think the OP will be fine if you can get the shower mixer re-seated properly, and the black plastic washer re-installed to provide enough sealing pressure to seal the rear silicon washers.
Good Luck.
If anyone finds a brass cartridge washer the same size as The Reich crappy Black Plastic one please let me know.
LES

Thanks for your very helpful reply. This is a new to us van, at the shower head there is a shut off button which I didn't realise and I thought I had drained the water but obviously there was water still in the pipe and tap which is now leaking. We are going up to Broad Lane Leisure who have said they can have a look this afternoon. We are supposed to be off to Scotland tomorrow.

 

[TinaLes]

Thanks for your very helpful reply. This is a new to us van, at the shower head there is a shut off button which I didn't realise and I thought I had drained the water but obviously there was water still in the pipe and tap which is now leaking. We are going up to Broad Lane Leisure who have said they can have a look this afternoon. We are supposed to be off to Scotland tomorrow.

I feel for you, our Honeymoon arround Scotland was delayed by two weeks waiting for parts
Reich Uk were very helpful in the end, sounds like you did exactly what I did, now I remove the shower head & hose completely and put it in the sink, yes it also had a "shut off" button thing on the shower head which stopped it free draining.
I am sure once you get the mixer stripped down from the front, you will find the cartridge retainer washer has been pushed forward and it will be out of alignment in holding the cartridge in place.
At least its not like The Hymers & too many others with micro switches to play up, its a simple pressurised water system, which is a great relief.
Good Luck, happy travels.
LES

 

[pappajohn]

Thanks for your very helpful reply. This is a new to us van, at the shower head there is a shut off button which I didn't realise and I thought I had drained the water but obviously there was water still in the pipe and tap which is now leaking. We are going up to Broad Lane Leisure who have said they can have a look this afternoon. We are supposed to be off to Scotland tomorrow.

When draining down open the tap and remove the shower head.
Blow down the shower hose which should remove all the water.

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[Toady]

Reich UK Office

Unit 7 Miras Business Estate

Lower Keys, Hednesford

Staffordshire WS12 2FS

Tel 01543 459243

Fax 01543 275929

E-mail infouk@reich-web.com

www.reich-web.com

 

[MickandHelen]

Thanks all. The guys at Broad Lane are struggling to get the cartridge out but hopefully they will sort as we have left it there for now. Special thanks to TinaLes as we were able to advise them on how to get the panel off so they could access. Not much space there and not a lot of play on the pipes.

 

[TinaLes]

Sorry to inform you at this late of events, but getting the shower mixer striped from the front and removing the cartridge is the easy part.
If they have written off the shower mixer and said the whole thing needs replacing then that's a shame, as mentioned it aint easy to get to the back to disconnect the pipes without taking a chance of splitting the GRP moulding.
But I wish them all the luck so you can get back on the road swiftly, wish I was there to help more.
LES